Gov. Robert Ehrlich filled the Reckord Armory in Bel Air with praise when he returned to his old stomping grounds Monday afternoon as part of his “Harford County Day” events.
Ehrlich, who represented Harford in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, dispatched members of his Cabinet for tours, meetings and public events throughout the county Monday, culminating in the recognition of Harford?s school system and dozens of other community groups at the armory.
This was the fourth or fifth “county day” in Harford, Ehrlich said, when officials would tour the state and show off their accomplishments in various counties. Ehrlich, Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, County Executive David Craig and Bel Air Mayor Terry Hanley ended with a walking tour of downtown Bel Air.
State Schools Superintendent Nancy Grasmick praised Harford County schools? high test scores, high rate of graduates attending college and highly qualified teachers.
“Harford County gets it that there?s an inextricable link between education and quality of life,” Grasmick said.
“For some systems, the rapidity of growth means diminishing quality,” but Harford schools have kept up with state standards despite growing 33 percent over the past 15 years, she said.
Maryland Secretary of Higher Education Calvin Burnett also praised the county for expansions and updates at Harford Community College, while Aris Melissaratos, secretary of business and economic development, said the state should look at bringing more advanced degree programs to the Higher Education and Technology Center.
The county?s educational offerings were key to bringing more jobs to Aberdeen Proving Ground as other military bases close and consolidate their operations, Melissaratos said.
“I know Harford is generally conservative, and fiscally conservative,” Ehrlich said. “But I can tell you your tax dollars are buying an increasingly high-quality system of public education.”
Ehrlich also used the meeting to hand out awards to individuals and organizations from the county.
